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Sydney FC chasing Tim Cahill

Angela Habashy

Sydney FC are in talks to get Socceroos striker Tim Cahill to the A-League hot on the back of his World Cup heroics.

The Sky Blues are still looking for a marquee signing for the coming season to replace Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero and are keen to get the Socceroos all-time leading scorer Cahill on their books.

It would be another landmark signing for Sydney with Cahill having been a standout in Brazil, with his goal against the Netherlands rated as among the best of the tournament.

The 34-year-old is, however, still contracted to his US club New York Red Bulls although Sydney officials are reportedly exploring the possibility of a release from the final year of his agreement with the Major League Soccer franchise.

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Reports have also emerged that fellow A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers and English side Queens Park Rangers may also be interested in Cahill.

Sydney's budget for a marquee is said to be set at $2 million, which would not match the $3.5 million that Cahill earns in New York.

Football Federation Australian boss David Gallop welcomed the possibility of the Socceroos star playing in Australia but admitted there were complications to overcome.

"It would be fantastic to see Tim Cahill in the A-League for all the reasons we've seen at the World Cup," Gallop said.

"He's a world-class player, one of the greatest Socceroos of all time and is enormously popular with Australian fans.

"This is an idea that is worth exploring, but there are many issues and complications to deal with."

The rebuilding of Sydney FC under new coach Graham Arnold is already well under way with the likes of prolific A-League striker Shane Smeltz and former Central coast star Bernie Ibini added to the side.